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(No Model.)

4J. D. HAZLET an W. R. BENNETT. APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION 0F BEER.

Patented June 1, 1886.

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jweizaL/O/ IOAW ,D #@5366 W77? E. ,Perf/MW yffm @WM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. HAZLET AND VILLIAM R. BENNETT, OF MEADVILLE, PA.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF BEER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,125, dated June 1, 1886.

Application tiled February 10, 1886. Serial No. 191,457. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN 1).-HAZLET and WILLTAMR. BENNETT, of Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Preservation of Beer; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to the preservation of beer, and is designed to keep the beer from getting dat The object of the device is to supply carbonic-acid gas from liquid form of gas to the keg, so as to keep a constant pressure on the contents thereof, and to have this pressure automatically supply the gas and at the same time taking the place of the gas which escapes ars-the beer is drawn and displacement of beer occurs, and thus rendering the admission of air unnecessary to cause it to flow.

It is well known that if a keg is once tapped the air introduced takes the life -from the liquid, and as soon as the natural gas emanated in brewing is exhausted the beer is unfit for use. f

In the accompanying drawing, the ligure represents a vertical longitudinal section of vthe invention.

In the drawing, A represents the tube or nozzle, which is connected at one end with the gas cylinder or bottle and at the other end to our improved governor. This governor is composed of a shell in two sections, I J, secured together by means of ordinary screws, P, having a flexible or rubber diaphragm secured between the two parts across the center of the chamber, having circular opening in the center, for the purpose hereinafter described. From the opposite end of the chainber .I a rubber pipe with a stop-cock upon it leads to the beer-keg to which the pressure is to be applied. On the forward end of the chamber is secured a casting, C, which has a diaphragm, S, similar to the diaphragm R, secured between it and the chamber I, and this diaphragm extends across the opening in the front of the chamber I, having also a circular opening therein, as in the case of the diaphragm R. The pipe a is secured to the front end ofthe casting C by universal coupling, suitable washer being provided at the junction of the parts, to prevent leakage of the gas. The inner part of the casting O is cut out, as shown at I) D, and iilled with soft metal-such as block tin, cennine, Babbitt metal, or copper-with a coneshape opening therein, inl which a valve, hereinafter described, is itted. A passage, d, is made through this material and through the end of the casting C to the pipe a.

Between the diaphragms S and R is a casting, H, having projecting branches H/ at one end, by which it is guided in its limited nieve ment within the chamber I. This casting carries a valve, E, which is pointed at its end and adapted to the cone-shape opening in the soft metal D, and closes the opening leading to the pipe d.

The casting H is held to the diaphragms, which are flexible; to the diaphragm S, by means of a nut, F, bearing against the Washer s, the nut F being held on the threaded end of the casting H, which projects through the circular opening in the diaphragm S. The opposite end of the casting H is connected to the diaphragm It in a similar manner. Aspring, M, is held on the periphery of the casting H, between the wall of the chamber I and the nut m on the casting, which thus gives constant pressure upon the casting, and tends to force the said casting E against the diaphragm R,and as the valve E is carried by the said casting it is evident that it will move with it and normally be kept open.

The tension ofthe spring M may be adjusted by loosening or tightening the nut x, a suitable Opening being made in the casting I, in order that a spanner or wrench may be ap plied to the said nut.

The valve E has peripheral grooves upon opposite sides, as shown in the detail sectional view, for the passage of the gas through the casting and the pipe leading to the keg to be supplied with gas.

The whole device is supported upon a suitable standard, L, which is secured upon the base. This standard may be secured upon an icebox in which the keg is contained, or in any suitable position.

In the operation of the device, the valve E being open by reason of the spring M pressing the casting H, which carries said valve to IOO ping the flow of gas. Asthebeer isy drawn,

the pressure of the gas in the keg and againstl the dlaphragm R is reduced, and as'soon as this pressure gets below the amount required,

:and 'which hasbeen" determil'led upomthe spring M1 will again 4exert its fforce, reopen the 4vaivn and admitmore gas, andvso on.`'1Thef 1"operatlon iscontinuedfindenitely and in' an* 2o" automatic nia'nner.

'The details of constructionimay changed `"indefinitely without departing from the spirit of our invention,l and-wel do notliinit'ourselves to the precise parts specified and "shown.

" Te claim as our invention- 1. The combination, in a;de'vice'ffor'v automatically supplying gas to beer or like bever-"1 ages, of a chamber interposed between the recept'acle containing the beverage'and the 'gas tank,^w`ith connections between' thesame, a

valve havin'g'pass'ages through the same Withv in the said chamber, carried upo'na casting, a"

1 spring adapted tokeep lsaid." 'valve vnormally idopen, whereby 'ihei gas is 'l ad mittedl through? `the passages in said valve to the chamberland the'4 keg in' connectiontlierevi'ith, a iiexible di- 1 aphragm upon oneside ofy the said casting, adapted to be acted upon by the back pressure of the gas, and to close the valve when'rthe pressure exceedsth'e=amount determined upon, substantially as' described.

2. Iniconibinatioina chamber `andcasting `carried therein, avvalve carried by said casting, flexible diaphragms R S at the front of said casting, a spring adapted to keep said valve open, a diaphragm, R, at the opposite end of said casting, and passages through the valve to the opposite side of said diaphragm, 'whereby in its normal condition the valve is kept open by the pressure of the spring, but 'is closed bythe pressure against the diaphragm R, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the regulating device interposed between the gassupply and the beverage to which the gas is to be supplied, consisting of the chamber I, having flexible diaphragms R S, a casting located between the same and carry-ing the valve, said valve being kept normally open by a springfand `means ffor closing lsaid valve-automatically when sufficient pressure -has beenapplied to the contents otitle keg; substantially as described."

4'In combination, al'chamber, I', connectionswith zi'gastank, `connections with the keg to be supplied, a casting Vcarrying a valve, a spring adapted to keep said valve open, pe- ;ripheralf grooves in said valvefforthe passage of the gas, and a diaphragm, R, the-backpressure of the" gas operating upon the said 'diaphragm to move the casting and to close '-"the valve',y substantially as described.

5f In ``combination, the chamber I', the casting Hycarryingthe valve having openings *thereinfa spring adapted to keep said valve open, and the tensionregulating device for said" spring, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof we have signed our "names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' i JOHN D. HAZLET.

VILLIAM It. BENNETT.`

Witnesses:

AV. HuSHErPARD, WIN S. Rose. 

